U.S. patent number 5,271,100 [Application Number 07/936,140] was granted by the patent office on 1993-12-21 for disposable surgical gown.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tennessee Disposable Medical Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert L. Holt.
United States Patent |
5,271,100 |
Holt |
December 21, 1993 |
Disposable surgical gown
Abstract
An improved disposable surgical gown 10 comprising a body
shielding panel 12 and sleeves 26, the body shielding panel 12
having a front portion 14 and side portions 16. The front portion
14 further defining a protection region 18 defines a fluid
absorbent outer layer 20, a fluid impermeable barrier layer 22 and
a fluid absorbent inner layer 24. The fluid absorbent outer layer
20 absorbs blood and other fluids of the like, thus hindering such
fluids from dripping off the gown, the inner layer 24 absorbs
perspiration, the barrier layer 22 serves as a barrier through
which fluids can not permeate. In the preferred embodiment, the
protection region 18 is fabricated from a trilaminate material
wherein the outer layer 20, inner layer 24, and barrier layer 22
are bonded. The sleeves 26 define a fluid impermeable barrier layer
30 and a fluid absorbent inner layer 28. The barrier layer 30
serves to protect a surgeon's arms from contact with outside fluids
and the inner layer 28 absorbs perspiration at the arms. In the
preferred embodiment, the sleeves 26 are fabricated from a
bilaminate material wherein the barrier layer 30 and the inner
layer 28 are bonded. The bilaminate material, while being fluid
impermeable, is also flexible such that the surgeon's motions are
not substantially impeded.
Inventors: |
Holt; Robert L. (Roane County,
TN) |
Assignee: |
Tennessee Disposable Medical
Products, Inc. (Wartburg, TN)
|
Family
ID: |
25468224 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/936,140 |
Filed: |
August 27, 1992 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/114; 2/51;
2/901 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D
13/1209 (20130101); Y10S 2/901 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41D
13/12 (20060101); A41D 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/2,46,48,49R,50,51,52,75,80,104,105,106,114,DIG.7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Assistant Examiner: Chapman; Jeanette E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pitts & Brittian
Claims
Having thus described the aforementioned invention, I claim:
1. An improved disposable surgical gown comprising:
a body shielding panel defining a front portion and at least one
side portion integral with said front portion, said body shielding
panel being substantially fluid absorbent;
a protection region defined by said front portion of said body
shielding panel said protection region defining an outer layer, an
inner layer and a barrier layer, said outer layer being defined by
said body shielding panel, said barrier layer being adhered to said
body shielding panel, said inner layer being adhered to said
barrier layer, said outer and inner layer being substantially fluid
absorbent, said barrier layer being substantially fluid
impermeable, said outer layer serving to absorbs fluids and
preventing said fluids from contacting a wearer and from preventing
said fluids from dripping down said surgical gown, said inner layer
serving to absorb perspiration of said wearer;
sleeves fastened to said body shielding panel for receipt of said
wearer's arms, said sleeves defining a barrier layer, said barrier
layer being substantially fluid impermeable, and an inner layer for
absorbing perspiration of said wearer, said inner layer being
substantially fluid absorbent, said barrier layer being bonded to
said inner layer, said barrier layer serving to protect said
wearer's arms;
a belt member secured to said improved disposable surgical gown
defining free ends, said free ends being selectively securable one
to another in a selected fashion about a wearer's waist; and
a fastening member secured at an upper location of the body
shielding panel, said fastening member defining free ends, said
free ends being selectively securable one to another in a selected
fashion around said wearer's neck.
2. An improved disposable surgical gown defining a unitary body
shielding panel defining a front panel, at least one side panel, a
plurality of sleeves, at least one tie, a neck closure for securing
said improved disposable surgical gown on a wearer, said
improvement comprising:
a protection region defined by said front portion of said unitary
body shielding panel, said protection region defining an outer
layer, an inner layer and a barrier layer, said outer layer being
defined by said unitary body shielding panel, said barrier layer
being adhered to said unitary body shielding panel, said inner
layer being adhered to said barrier layer, said outer layer and
said inner layer being substantially fluid absorbent and said
barrier layer being substantially fluid impermeable, said outer
layer serving to absorb fluids and preventing said fluids from
contacting a wearer and from preventing said fluids from dripping
down said surgical gown, said inner layer serving go absorb
perspiration of said wearer.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to disposable surgical gowns and, in
particular, to disposable surgical gowns that are fluid impermeable
to blood, serums and fluids of the like and air permeable to
provide ventilation to the surgeon.
BACKGROUND ART
Presently, there are several types of disposable surgical gowns
being offered to the medical community. The surgical gowns of the
most recent known art attempt to resolve the problem of fluid
penetration or "strikethrough" of the fabric of the gown, while
retaining air permeability and flexibility for maintaining a
sufficient comfort level for the surgeon.
Strikethrough of blood, serum or the like has become a major
concern in recent years. Because the arms and the front of the body
of the surgeon are the most susceptible to strikethrough, special
efforts are made to enhance these areas with a higher degree of
fluid impermeability.
Typical of the known background art are the patents listed in the
following table.
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Date
______________________________________ 3,011,172 D. Tames December
5, 1961 4,171,542 L. A. Cox October 23, 1979 4,408,357 M. A. Toth
October 11, 1983 4,504,977 M. K. King March 19, 1985 4,586,196 R.
N. White May 6, 1986 ______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,172 discusses a surgical gown with moisture
proof conductive grounding means. The gown itself is made entirely
of a lightweight material such as linen, cotton or the like. A
panel of a moisture proof, electrically conductive material, such
as synthetic rubber made electrically conductive by carbon
impregnation, is sewn into the upper front portion of the front
panel. The only portion of the gown that is fluid resistant is the
portion of the front panel where the moisture proof panel is
located.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,542 describes a surgical gown with a bib
forming a hand support. The bib is attached to the inside of the
gown's front panel, with slits cut into the gown front for access
to the hand support. The bib is constructed of a fluid impervious
film that is adhered to the inside of the front panel such that
there is a pocket for the hand support. This portion of the gown is
air and fluid impermeable.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,408,357, 4,504,977 and 4,586,196 discuss
disposable surgical gowns with zones that are fluid resistant and
zones that are air permeable for the comfort of the surgeon. The
'357 patent is comprised of a front panel, two back panels and
sleeves, the sleeves of which are fabricated from a water repellant
material, the back panels are fabricated from an air permeable
material and the front panel can be fabricated from either the
material used for the sleeves or the material used for the back
panel.
The '977 patent describes a zoned surgical gown wherein a front
portion, the central operative region, of the front panel and the
lower half of the sleeves are water resistant. The remainder of the
gown is fabricated from a lightweight air permeable material. The
lower half of the sleeves are comprised of a layer of a base sleeve
material and a layer of a water-repellant, air porous nonwoven
fabric web.
The '196 patent teaches a gown in which the back panels and the
upper portion of the sleeves are highly air permeable, the front
panel and lower portion of the sleeves are fluid impermeable.
The known background art attempts to solve the problems of fluid
resistance while maintaining air permeability for comfort to the
surgeon. To attain a high degree of fluid impermeability in the
surgical gown, comfort to the surgeon is often relinquished and no
alternatives are supplied to relieve the problems that result such
as perspiration or inflexibility due to treatment of the material
for fluid impermeability.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a
disposable surgical gown which provides comfort to the surgeon
through highly air permeable materials.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a surgical
gown which provides an absorbent layer to absorb perspiration where
the air permeability of the material is reduced.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide such a
surgical gown that provides a flexible material that is also fluid
impermeable.
Still, a further object of this invention is to provide such a
surgical gown which provides overall protection to the surgeon from
penetration of blood and other fluids to the body of the
surgeon.
A further object of this invention is to provide such a surgical
gown which provides an absorbent layer which hinders fluids from
dripping down the gown and onto the surgeon's shoes or the
floor.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a disposable surgical gown
is provided which offers fluid impermeability, air permeability,
flexibility, a fluid absorbent inner layer to absorb perspiration
that may result from reduced ventilation and a fluid absorbent
outer layer to absorb blood and other fluids to hinder these fluids
from dripping down the gown and on the shoes of the surgeon. The
surgical gown is comprised of a body shielding panel, sleeves,
which are attached to the body shielding panel, and means for
securing the gown on the user. The body shielding panel is
comprised of a front portion, which defines a fluid impermeable
protection region, and side panels. In the preferred embodiment,
the body shielding panel is constructed of a nonwoven material
which is air permeable and fluid absorbent. In the preferred
embodiment, the protection region is a fabricated from a
trilaminate. The protection region is formed by adhering a fluid
impermeable barrier fabricated from a polypropylene material to the
inside of the front portion. The front portion is the outer layer
of the trilaminate. The outer layer, which is fluid absorbent,
serves to absorb blood or fluids of the like such that these fluids
do not drip down the gown and onto the surgeon's shoes or the
floor. Further, another layer of the fluid absorbent nonwoven
material is bonded to the inside of the polypropylene barrier and
forms the inner layer of the trilaminate. The inner layer serves to
assist in absorbing perspiration from the surgeon. The barrier
layer is fluid impermeable through which fluids from the inner or
outer can not permeate.
In the preferred embodiment, the sleeves are constructed of a
bilaminate material which is comprised of a fluid impermeable
polypropylene barrier and a fluid absorbent nonwoven inner layer,
the two layers are bonded together. The inner layer serves to
absorb perspiration from the surgeon which may result from reduced
ventilation at the sleeves. The barrier layer protects the
surgeon's arms from outside fluids. The bilaminate material also
offers a high degree of flexibility which allows the surgeon to
move his arms freely. In the preferred embodiment, ties are
supplied on the inside and outside of the gown to secure the
surgical gown on the surgeon. A velcro closure is supplied for
securing the gown around the neck area of the surgeon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above mentioned features of the invention will become more
clearly understood from the following detailed description of the
invention read together with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved disposable surgical
gown constructed in accordance with several of the features of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the improved disposable
surgical gown of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the protection region.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the junction of the sleeves and
the protection region.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
An improved disposable surgical gown 10 which offers air
permeability, fluid resistivity, flexibility and comfort is
illustrated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. A rear perspective view of
the surgical gown 10 is shown in FIG. 2. In the preferred
embodiment, the surgical gown 10 is comprised generally of a body
shielding panel 12 which is comprised of a front portion 14 and
side portions 16. The front portion 14 further defines a protection
region 18 which covers substantially the front portion 14 of the
body shielding panel 12. In the preferred embodiment, the body
shielding panel 12 is fabricated from a nonwoven material which is
highly air permeable and fluid absorbent. The protection region 18
extends the length of the surgical gown 10 and laterally extends to
the side portions 16 to protect substantially the front of the body
of the surgeon. In the preferred embodiment, the protection region
18, a cross section of which is shown in FIG. 4, is a trilaminate.
It is formed by adhering a fluid impermeable polypropylene material
to the inside of the front portion 14 of the body shielding panel
12. Another layer of the fluid absorbent nonwoven material is
bonded to the inside of the polypropylene material. The fluid
absorbent nonwoven material of the body shielding panel 12 forms
the outer layer 20 of the trilaminate, the polypropylene material
forms the barrier layer 22 and the nonwoven material bonded to the
inside of the barrier layer 22 forms the inner layer 24 of the
trilaminate. The outer layer 20 of the gown 10 is fluid absorbent
and serves to absorb outside fluids such as blood or serum and to
hinder any fluid from dripping down the gown 10 and onto the
surgeon's shoes or to the floor. The inner layer 24 is fluid
absorbent to assist in absorbing the surgeon's perspiration which
may result from reduced air permeability in the protection region
18. The barrier layer 22, which is between the inner layer 24 and
outer layer 20, is fluid impermeable through which fluids from
either the inner layer 24 or outer layer 20 can not permeate. The
side portions 16 are secured around and on the back of the surgeon
and are highly air permeable to supply for ventilation through the
gown 10.
Sleeves 26 are attached to the body shielding panel 12 at an
appropriate location proximate the shoulders for receiving the
surgeon's arms. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeves 26 are
fabricated from a bilaminate material. A cross section of the
sleeves 26 and the body of the gown 10 including the protection
region 18 is shown in FIG. 3. A cross section of a sleeve 26 and
its connection at the protection region 18 is shown in FIG. 5. The
bilaminate material is comprised of a barrier layer 30 which is
fluid impermeable and an inner layer 28, which is fluid absorbent.
The inner layer 28 serves to absorb the surgeon's perspiration,
which may result from reduced ventilation at the sleeves 26. The
barrier layer 30 serves to prevent the fluids from coming in
contact with the surgeon's arms. The bilaminate material is also
flexible to a degree that the surgeon can move his arms freely such
that his motions are not substantially impeded by the surgical gown
10. Cuffs 27 are sewn to the bottom of the sleeves 26 to secure the
bottom of the sleeves 26 to the wrists of the surgeon. In the
preferred embodiment, the cuffs 27 are fabricated from a
traditional elastomeric knit blend.
In the preferred embodiment, tie straps 32, 36, are affixed to the
surgical gown 10 in two locations to secure the gown 10 around the
surgeon. A first set of tie straps 36 are affixed to inner side of
the surgical gown 10 proximate the side portions 14, as shown in
FIG. 2. The oppositely disposed tie straps 36 tie at the back of
the surgeon. A second tie strap 32, as shown in FIG. 1, is affixed
to the outer surface of the surgical gown 10 on the front portion
14 two straps 32 extend out and wrap around opposite side of the
surgeon's body and tie on the back of the surgeon.
In the preferred embodiment, a velcro closure 34 is affixed to the
neck area of the surgical gown 10 and secures the neck of the
surgical gown 10 around the neck of the surgeon, as shown in FIG.
2. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other
suitable means such as an additional tie strap can be used to
secure the gown 10 around the surgeon's neck. A pocket 38 can be
sewn to front portion 14 of the surgical gown 10 in the preferred
embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.
From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those
skilled in the art that an improved disposable surgical gown
offering advantages over the prior art has been provided.
Specifically, the improved disposable surgical gown is
substantially fluid impermeable at the front portion and sleeves.
The improved disposable surgical gown further provides a fluid
absorbent inner layer at the front portion and the sleeves to
absorb perspiration. The improved surgical gown also provides a
fluid absorbent outer layer at the front portion to absorb blood
and other fluids such that these fluids do not drip from the gown.
The improved disposable surgical gown provides sleeves which are
fluid impermeable while maintaining flexibility such that the
surgeon's movements are not substantially impeded by the surgical
gown.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will
be understood that it is not intended to limit the disclosure, but
rather it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate
methods falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *